The Real Business of Shopping at the Azure Dragon Merchant Association

Lu Ping chose A.

Saving this thousand Spirit Stones is pointless.

What he lacks now is not Spirit Stones.

Problems that can be solved with money aren't really problems.

[You chose A.]

[You have taken out one thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.]

[Spirit Stone on the table.]

Shen Yuerong's movements as she collected the Spirit Stones were noticeably gentler.

[This I'm the Client.]

[She pushed the cyan jade box in front of you, and then took out a Jade Slip as well.]

These are the internal examination room instructions.

"Not included in the package."

"Sect Master Lu, consider this a personal gift from me."

The waitress pouring tea paused.

She stayed by Shen Yuerong's side for three years.

[The number of times Shopkeeper Shen has given away extra materials can be counted on one hand.]

[This Greenwood Sect Master hasn't uttered a single unnecessary word since he entered.]

[But every time he offered Spirit Stones, Shopkeeper Shen would voluntarily give in.]

[Shen Yuerong opens the jade box.]

[Three Jade Slips were neatly arranged inside.]

[The Official Textbook for Second-Grade Alchemists ]

[Analysis of Question Types in National Unified Examinations Over the Past Decade.]

[Summary of Deviations in the Properties of Inferior Quality Herbal Medicines.]

[At the very bottom, there is a thin white paper contract.]

[Shen Yuerong pulls out a piece of white paper and pushes it in front of you.]

"Sign this."

[You picked it up and took a look.]

[It states: Exam preparation does not guarantee passing; the right of interpretation belongs to the Heavenly Certification Alliance and Azure Dragon Merchant Association.]

[Put the contract back on the table.]

Can I study without signing a contract?

[Shen Yuerong shook her head.]

["Cannot."]

[You pick up the contract again.]

"You guys are really good at this."

Shen Yuerong handed over the Cinnabar brush.

"Cultivating immortality isn't shameful."

[You took the Cinnabar pen and wrote the two characters "Lu Ping" on the contract.]

[The contract glowed faintly.]

[Shen Yuerong pushes the jade box in front of you, then takes out an examination token.]

"The exam will begin in five days."

"The list of attendees for the auction Auction be sealed six days from now."

"Sect Master Lu, you only have one chance."

[You take the exam pass.]

The cyan jade pendant felt slightly cool to the touch. The words "Second-Level Dan Examination" were engraved on its surface, and a very small number was printed on the back.

You reach out and put the exam card into your Storage Bag.

"Arrange a seven-day stay for me in this cave abode."

Shen Yuerong flipped through the account books.

"A top-tier cave abode (Class A) costs one hundred Spirit Stones per day."

Seven days.

[Push the Spirit Stone over there.]

[After accepting the Spirit Stones, Shen Yuerong handed over a Restriction token.]

"During the exam preparation period, the Chamber of Commerce will be responsible for basic security."

["Basic?"]

"Within the Restriction area of cave abode, the Chamber of Commerce guarantees that no one will forcibly enter; outside the Restriction area, all risks are borne by the inhabitants."

You nodded.

[This is the right flavor.]

[High-end service doesn't necessarily mean high-end, but a professional disclaimer is guaranteed.]

[You have moved into a superior-grade cave abode dwelling.]

[The cave abode is rich in Spiritual Qi, the Earthfire is stable, and it is equipped with Spirit Gathering Formation, Mind-Calming Formation, and Sound-Isolating Formation.]

[Try to extract a spirit-infused Void Spirit Blank.]

[The speed of spirit infusion is almost twice that of the Greenwood Sect.]

[You took out another Spirit Stone and absorbed it.]

[The refining speed has also increased significantly.]

[You sit on the Meditation Cushion, reflecting on the difference in Spiritual Qi between the Greenwood Sect and this place.]

No wonder everyone flocked to the big cities in my past life.

It's not that they like crowds, it's that all the resources are piled up here.

[You spread out the Jade Slip containing your exam preparation materials, studied it for two hours, and then got up and left the cave abode.]

Now that we're staying at the Azure Dragon Merchant Association, buying some things is the proper thing to do.

Your main playing style is becoming increasingly abstract.

[First, throw money around.]

[Fire-Separation Finger.]

[Then, add more poison with Flying Knife.]

[While this fighting style is practical, "Thousand-Hand Guanyin" is ultimately just a mortal method of concealed weaponry.]

[This technique was sufficient when I was with the Black Tiger Gang and the Greenwood Sect.]

Upon arriving in Qingyang City, they appeared somewhat pathetic compared to the true disciples of Great Sects and the direct descendants of powerful Lineage.

[You have arrived at the Cultivation Method counter.]

[Rows of wooden frames were laid out, and the Jade Slips were all sealed within transparent Restriction.]

[Low-grade Cultivation Method, starting at 300 Spirit Stones.]

[Mid-grade Cultivation Method, starting at 1000 Spirit Stones.]

[A superior Cultivation Method, locked away separately at the very back.]

You stood there looking around, and felt a tightness in your chest.

[Of all the skills you've cultivated so far, your most outstanding abilities are probably the Southern Bright Li Fire Scripture and the Hundred-Forged Medicine Body Formula.]

[The Southern Bright Li Fire Scripture is somewhat special, so we won't discuss it for now.]

[The Hundred-Forged Medicine Body Formula was originally only a low-grade technique.]

[The reason it's still usable isn't because the Cultivation Method itself is particularly powerful.]

[It's thanks to your Artisan Spirit and Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvement that you managed to elevate a flawed Cultivation Method to a mid-level effectiveness.]

[That's how the Breath-Concealing Technique is done.]

[You suddenly realize that you actually have a considerable talent for survival.]

You took another step inside.

A red Jade Slip is positioned at the very top.

[The Thousand Mechanisms Falling Blossoms Instruction.]

[Top grade.]

[Specializing in hidden weapons, throwing needles, Flying Knives, throwing stones, and various Law Artifact.]

Most importantly, it also cultivates the differentiation of Divine Sense and the control of physical strength.

[Our playing style is an almost perfect match.]

[Price: 10,000 Spirit Stones ]

You stared at that line of numbers for several breaths.

[A top-grade Cultivation Method selling for 10,000 is abnormally cheap.]

Most importantly, top-grade Cultivation Method are now priceless.

The clerk behind the counter is also watching you.

[You asked the question]

Why is this Cultivation Method marked in red?

The man hesitated, indicating he didn't know.

"Please Shopkeeper Shen here."

A moment later, Shen Yuerong arrived.

She glanced at the Jade Slip and paused.

"Sect Master Lu, you've taken a fancy to this one?"

"I've got my eye on it."

What does the red label mean?

Shen Yuerong did not reply immediately.

[She dismissed all the servants and maids before adding another layer of Restriction.]

["Resale on consignment."]

You looked up.

"Does the Azure Dragon Merchant Association also act as a reseller?"

"Only do a few."

"Did it come from somewhere unusual?"

"You could say that."

"Our Azure Dragon Merchant Association only recognizes Spirit Stones, regardless of their origin."

You mentally went through the calculations.

[The Spirit Stones I swindled from Zhao Mingchuan, plus my savings over the years, are more than enough to come up with ten thousand.]

[But if you drain your resources all at once, it will affect your future exams, auctions, and purchases of Void-Aperture Jade Marrow.]

This kind of situation is most likely to push people to the point where they think, "I just need to borrow a little more."

You remained silent.